A former Vestavia Hills City Council member and two political newcomers to the election process are vying for the Council Place 1 seat.

David Skinner, who served on the council from 1992 to 2000, Deloye Burrell or John Henley hope to join three other council members and the mayor in Vesta­via's new council-manager form of government.

City elections are set for Aug. 28 with runoffs, if necessary, on Oct. 9.

Under Vestavia's new form of government, which was approved by voters in August 2010, the council will have four members in­stead of its current five.

The mayor -- now the city's da­ily administrator -- will serve as a voting member on the council and relinquish administrative duties to the city manager.

The council hired Randy Rob­ertson in September 2011 and brought him onboard to get acclimated to the change in government.

Skinner acknowledges he was opposed to the change in government.

"I was opposed not to the city manager but in the change in the form of government," he said. "I still think we need five council members and a mayor."

Skinner said he served on councils that shaped Vestavia into what it is today, noting the annexations of Liberty Park and Cahaba Heights.

"I feel I still have something to give to this community," he said. "It's a great community, but we've got to be smart with our resources and what we're doing. And I think my business management practices in the past and my experience on the council make me uniquely qualified for Place 1."

Burrell said an open seat on the council provided the perfect time for him to run.

"I had made a commitment to all the people on the council that I would never run against someone I had helped get elected," he said.

But the Place 1 seat has no incumbent running.

Burrell said he has participated in early plans to change the form of government and long-range planning processes to shape future growth in Vestavia Hills.

He noted the long-range plan for Cahaba Heights and Market Street Services Inc.'s Community Vision Plan completed earlier this year.

The Market Street plan identified areas the city needs to consider as it builds for its future.

"Some of the things we've put in the Cahaba Heights and Market Street plans are finally starting to come into fruition," Burrell said. "The city's moving toward implementation of what we've planned. And I sure would like to be part of getting that going."

Henley said the new council will be crucial in leading Vestavia Hills into the future, and he wants to serve on that leadership team.

"I think it's important with the change in government to get everything right for the next for years," he said. "I think we've got to set a framework and foundation for the future, and I want to be a part of that."

Henley said he has worked on the Market Street Community Vision Plan steering committee and serves on the Vision Plan implementation committee, so he understands the issues facing Vestavia's future.

"We have make sure we're sustainable and a viable community for a long time to come," Henley said. "I want to make sure we're in a position to do that."